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Adelaide CBD Developments Move Toward Key Decisions on Precincts and Timelines
Major projects including the City East precinct and Tapangka require upcoming choices on construction delivery and approvals amid over $1.33 billion in approved investment.
How we reported this
The $900 million City East precinct in Adelaide's East End will deliver over 700 apartments across four towers up to 39 storeys, including 200 affordable housing units, through an Expression of Interest process that has opened recently.
City East Precinct Expression of Interest
The Expression of Interest process for the City East precinct represents the immediate decision point for developers seeking to advance the four-tower project. This step follows the approval of the overall $900 million scheme and will determine which parties handle construction delivery for the apartments and affordable housing components in the East End.
Tapangka and Franklin Street Next Steps
The former Franklin Street bus terminal site is set to become Tapangka, a twin-tower complex that will include 392 apartments with 137 affordable units, 196 build-to-rent units and a 208-key hotel. Construction on this project is scheduled to begin in early 2026 with completion targeted for 2029, requiring final site preparations and contractor selections in the months ahead. The $200 million Franklin Tower on Franklin Street remains under construction as part of the same corridor activity.
Market Square and Existing Completions
The $500 million Market Square redevelopment around Gouger and Grote streets combines retail, offices, a hotel and new apartments with completion scheduled for later in 2026. Victoria Tower on Grote Street, a $200 million 37-storey building with nearly 300 apartments, has already reached completion and provides a benchmark for the pace of other projects.
Total approved building investment in the CBD exceeds $1.33 billion across 40 projects that are ready to break ground. These projects are expected to add 1,800 apartments and 13 new hotels once underway. The scale of this pipeline means local authorities and developers must coordinate on approvals, infrastructure connections and sequencing to keep multiple sites moving without delays.
Stakeholders will next focus on the City East Expression of Interest outcomes and the early 2026 start for Tapangka, while monitoring Market Square progress through the remainder of 2026. These milestones will shape how the additional apartments and hotels integrate into the existing CBD fabric.